What are kola nut benefits and side effects every ethical consumer must know? Here are kola nut pros and cons and how buying it will impact your health, the environment, animals and laborers.
Food is something we consume every day and if you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on kola nut benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about kola nut benefits and side effects. This will include kola nut benefits for your health and potential risks, kola nut water footprint and carbon footprint, kola nut sustainability, if kola nuts are vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if kola nuts are good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be prepared to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about kola nut benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Must-Know Kola Nut Benefits And Side Effects
HEALTH
Kola nut health benefits may include:
- aided digestion
- boosted metabolism
- better circulation
- boosted energy levels
- stops the growth of harmful bacteria
- possible migraine treatment
- possible asthma treatment
Kola nut side effects may include:
- insomnia (depending on your body’s reaction to caffeine)
- shakiness (depending on your body’s reaction to caffeine)
- nausea (depending on your body’s reaction to caffeine)
- possibly elevate blood pressure (do not consume if you have high blood pressure)
Be sure to eat in moderation as with any food. Do not over-consume.
Additionally, kola nuts are…
- Likely Acidic pH level once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not Common Food Allergen (it’s actually a seed from inside a fruit and won’t cause tree nut allergies)
- Contain caffeine
ENVIRONMENT
Water footprint: High, it takes 9,063 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of nuts. In other words 1,086 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of nuts. Despite not technically being a nut (kola nuts are seeds) they still grow on nut trees. This water footprint is a rough estimation.
Carbon footprint: Moderate, it takes 2.3 CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of nuts. In other words, a car driving equivalent of 5.25 miles or 8.5 kilometers. Despite not technically being a nut (kola nuts are seeds) they still grow on nut trees. This carbon footprint is a rough estimation.
Destruction: low, kola nut production is relatively sustainable, there is no significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, be sure to buy non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Kola nuts are…
- Moderately Sustainable
ANIMALS
Kills: none, kola nut production does not directly kill any animals
Harms: none, kola nut production does not require the usage of any animals
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from kola nut production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Kola nuts are…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
LABORERS
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Kola nuts…
- May have laborer issues and human rights concerns (depends on brand)
kola nuts are likely acidic. kola nut side effects include not fitting into an alkaline diet.
Are kola nuts alkaline or acidic?
Kola nuts are likely acidic. Most nuts and seeds are acidic (kola nuts typically refer to the seed of the plant, not the nut).
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
kola nuts are gluten free.
Are kola nuts gluten free?
Yes, kola nuts are gluten free. Kola nut are a type of seed, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
kola nuts are not a common food allergen: NOT a tree nut.
Are kola nuts a common food allergen?
No, kola nuts are not a common food allergen. Kola nuts are actually seeds from inside a fruit and won’t cause a tree nut allergic reaction. Some people may experience allergic reactions to kola nuts but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
These foods account for about 90% of all food allergies in the United States.
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
kola nuts likely have a high water footprint. kola nut side effects include requiring a low of water.
Do kola nuts have a high or low water footprint?
Kola nuts have a relatively high water footprint compared to other foods.
What is the water footprint of kola nuts?
It takes 9,063 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of nuts. In other words 1,086 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of nuts. Despite not technically being a nut (kola nuts are seeds) they still grow on nut trees. This water footprint is a rough estimation.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource?
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of “water footprints”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
kola nuts likely have a moderate carbon footprint.
Do kola nuts have a high or low carbon footprint?
Kola nuts have a relatively moderate carbon footprint compared to other foods.
What is the carbon footprint of kola nuts?
It takes 2.3 CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of nuts. In other words, a car driving equivalent of 5.25 miles or 8.5 kilometers. Despite not technically being a nut (kola nuts are seeds) they still grow on nut trees. This carbon footprint is a rough estimation.
Carbon footprints greatly depend on how far the food has traveled to get to you!
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
t’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
kola nuts are moderately sustainable.
Overall, are kola nuts eco friendly? Are kola nuts sustainable?
Kola nut production is moderately sustainable since there is no significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
A 2010 United Nations report said that a global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world the worst impacts of climate change.
kola nuts are vegan.
Are kola nuts vegan?
Yes, kola nuts are vegan. Kola nuts are a fruit and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
kola nuts may have laborer issues and human rights concerns (depends on brand).
Are kola nuts a product with laborer concerns?
At this time there are no major concerns with kola nut production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening! It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may be associated with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Check out this list of food to buy fair trade.
This post was all about kola nut benefits and side effects.
Sources:
Kola nut: so much more than just a nut – PMC – NCBI
